Award-winning New York City drummer and composer marks his arrival with acclaimed debut album, Vision Ahead, swinging through the Rubber City as part of his 2020 spring tour! Featuring Jonathan Barber, Andrew Renfroe, Taber Gable, Matt Dwonszyk.
Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead is an ascendant New York music band led by Modern Drummerโs โ#1 Best Up-and-Coming Drummer of 2018,โ Jonathan Barber. Only 30 years old, Jonathan Barber has already worked with artists such as Pat Metheny, Nicholas Payton, Buster Williams, Kenny Barron, Jeremy Pelt, Jimmy Greene, J.D. Allen, Harold Mabern, Larry Willis, Steve Davis the Brooklyn Philharmonic, and Erykah Badu. Now, heโs now stepping out in full force as a bandleader. DownBeat Magazine calls Vision Aheadโs self-titled debut album Barberโs โgreatest accomplishment to date,โ but make no mistake, this group is more than the Jonathan Barber Quintet; this is unmistakably โVision Ahead,โ a distinctive and close-knit group of musicians who have been working toward this moment for years....
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Award-winning New York City drummer and composer marks his arrival with acclaimed debut album, Vision Ahead, swinging through the Rubber City as part of his 2020 spring tour! Featuring Jonathan Barber, Andrew Renfroe, Taber Gable, Matt Dwonszyk.
Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead is an ascendant New York music band led by Modern Drummerโs โ#1 Best Up-and-Coming Drummer of 2018,โ Jonathan Barber. Only 30 years old, Jonathan Barber has already worked with artists such as Pat Metheny, Nicholas Payton, Buster Williams, Kenny Barron, Jeremy Pelt, Jimmy Greene, J.D. Allen, Harold Mabern, Larry Willis, Steve Davis the Brooklyn Philharmonic, and Erykah Badu. Now, heโs now stepping out in full force as a bandleader. DownBeat Magazine calls Vision Aheadโs self-titled debut album Barberโs โgreatest accomplishment to date,โ but make no mistake, this group is more than the Jonathan Barber Quintet; this is unmistakably โVision Ahead,โ a distinctive and close-knit group of musicians who have been working toward this moment for years.
Vision Ahead offers a fresh blend of classic jazz with elements of gospel, rock, soul, and fusion thatโs already attracting listeners across generations. Even when theyโre playing hardโand they do reach some thrilling crescendosโthis extremely dynamic band always feels impeccably sharp and in control, cool far beyond their years. Barber also shows quite a gift for pacing in his new compositions, with each song boasting a real sense of progression thatโs balanced with a proper spotlight on his bandmatesโ noteworthy improvisations. With strong melodic motifs and almost every extended solo accompanied by new forms or themes, Barberโs music strikes the rare balance of maintaining a clear emotional through-line while still providing each soloist a fresh foundation on which to build. The name โVision Aheadโ holds deep personal significance to Barber, as suggested in the occasional lyrics throughout the record, but itโs immediately clear that this is the sound of now.
Featuring Jonathan Barber (drums), Andrew Renfroe (guitar), Taber Gable (piano), Matt Dwonszyk (bass).
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